October is arguably the month of sports—but with the NFL and college football in full swing, MLB’s two biggest teams facing off in the World Series, the NHL’s opening weeks, and the rise of the WNBA, the NBA season, which tips off Tuesday night, seems to have crept up on the calendar.
Basketball had an extended run in fans’ consciousness after last season as the Olympics came just a month after the Celtics won banner No. 18. But the rest of the offseason has been relatively quiet for the league, outside of a shocking Karl-Anthony Towns trade last month. Unlike last season, there was no extended Damian Lillard–esque saga.
The NBA still boasts quite a few compelling storylines entering this season, best summarized by the aforementioned defending champions.
A Complicated Quest to Repeat
The Celtics are the favorites to repeat as champions—and if they pull it off, they would be the first since the Warriors in 2017 and 2018 to win two in a row.
While Boston isn’t perceived to be an unbeatable juggernaut, a favorite winning consecutive titles would be a counterpoint to the league’s last two collective bargaining agreements, which kicked in during the 2017–2018 and 2023–2024 seasons, respectively, and were designed to bring greater parity to the NBA.
But the Celtics have approached roster construction without much consideration of the penalties that come with passing the luxury tax and second apron, which are thresholds above the league’s soft salary cap. Those penalties include limitations to making trades and signing free agents, and come with financial penalties—which is why the franchise has a projected payroll north of $500 million for the 2025–2026 season.
Championship contenders like the Timberwolves and Nuggets have taken a more defensive approach to the CBA rules, and they have lost key players to try to cut their payroll.
Boston’s growing bill is reportedly a key reason why team owner Wyc Grousbeck and his father put the team up for sale soon after winning the title. The team’s goal is to finalize the sale within the next two years, though Grousbeck will stay in charge until 2028.
Other Key Storylines
League expansion: The Celtics sale may impact league growth as the franchise sale price could reset the market price for expansion fees. Commissioner Adam Silver has teased the league’s desire to add teams, which would be its first since 2004, and cities like Las Vegas and Seattle are the leading candidates to receive teams.
TNT Sports’ last dance: The NBA agreed to a new media-rights deal in July with ESPN, NBCUniversal, and Amazon, but left out Warner Bros. Discovery. While there is ongoing litigation between WBD and the NBA, the new deal leaves just one more year left for the NBA on TNT. This could mean a final run for the iconic studio show, Inside the NBA.
In-season tournament 2.0: It’s Year 2 for the regular-season tournament—now branded as the Emirates NBA Cup. The format is similar to last year’s, with each player on the winning team earning $500,000. How players approach IST games—and whether fans will pay more attention—will be worth watching, especially as many were confused about last year’s format.
Wemby watch and Flagg bearing: Victor Wembanyama will continue to garner a ton of attention this year as the French phenom enters his second season with high expectations following a run to the silver medal in the Paris Olympics. But there will also be an eye on the slew of teams at the bottom of the standings hoping for the best chance at Duke’s Cooper Flagg, the best U.S. prospect since fellow Blue Devils alum Zion Williamson—and maybe as far back as Kentucky’s Anthony Davis.
